Colorado News

Broncos fans say dealing with freezing cold all part of the game plan

By Ryan ParkerThe Denver Post

Posted:
01/11/2013 10:01:00 PM MST

Ken Castaneda holds a sign while fellow Denver Broncos fans join in the "United in Orange" pep rally at Sports Authority Field at Mile High on Friday. Forecasters say fans will be united in something else at Saturday's game — cold. (Hyoung Chang, The Denver Post)

• When you bleed orange and blue, it doesn't matter if you can't feel your frozen face, as long as the Broncos can hear your cheers.

• Saturday is supposed to be cold. Frigid, in fact. But for fans attending the divisional-round playoff matchup between the Broncos and the Baltimore Ravens, icy temperatures are nothing more than a backdrop for a game that brings this town one step closer to the Super Bowl.

• In the biggest game yet this season, weather could be a major factor at Sports Authority Field at Mile High for not only fans' enjoyment but their health, as well as player performance and local business.

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"Cold weather is the weather football should be played in,"said fan Phil Hahn in a Facebook post. "When it's cold, I cheer louder and have more energy than I would if it was 90 degrees out."

In that case, it's lucky for Hahn that the National Weather Service reports the high Saturday will be 20 degrees, with the low in single digits. So the "heat of the day" should occur around the 2:30 p.m. kickoff time. A chance of snow and wind is forecast for the afternoon.

Peyton Manning — the duly appointed sheriff of Broncos Country — said he wasn't sure how the cold would affect the fans, but they have to make their presence known.

"We're going to need them to be as loud as they possibly can be on Saturday," Manning said.

The seats may not be heated, but the field will be, said Erich Schubert, Broncos spokesman.

Ten inches beneath the turf at Sports Authority Field at Mile High run more than 20 miles of heat tubing, he said.

"The field heating system keeps the grass living, growing and recuperative, which helps provide a better playing surface in colder weather," said Andy Gorchov, general manager at Sports Authority Field.

The system is heated by water with two boilers powered by natural gas. There is also the ability to tie in a third boiler, if necessary, which provides a safety net of triple redundancy, Schubert said.

The field is divided into five heating zones, with two sensors per zone at the 6-inch level, Schubert said.

Regional Transportation District spokesman Scott Reed said the BroncosRide — buses going from 27 park-n-Ride facilities to the stadium — shouldn't be more crowded than normal.

"On average, about 9,000 fans use the service, and that is what we are expecting on Saturday," he said.

Extra light-rail cars are put into use to and from the stadium for games, and 10,000 fans ride on average, Reed said.

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Players will have heaters on the sidelines, along with parkas, Schubert said.

Staff working the game will be prepared for the icy conditions too.

"I have to work the game, and I expect to have at least eight to 10 layers on," said Jess Foulsham, a guest-relations usher, in a Facebook post.

Hot chocolate and coffee will be sold at concession stands and by staff who walk the aisles, the Broncos' Schubert said.

Make sure you dress for the elements, stressed Dr. Christopher Colwell, director of emergency medicine at Denver Health.

While some brazen attendees may want to make the Barrel Man proud with their lack of attire, Colwell said fans should wear layers of clothes.

When temperatures plummet, and exposure to the elements is for hours at a time, fans need to be aware of how their bodies react, Colwell said.

It takes only a few minutes for exposed skin to become frostbitten if the temperature is below 20 degrees and the wind is blowing at 20 mph, according to Denver Heath information.

"Keep covered, especially your head, and try to keep dry," Colwell said. "Pay attention to any symptoms or changes you may feel from the cold."

And while leaving a toasty car or tailgate party earlier to get into the stadium may not sound appealing, Schubert said, it's the best way to avoid a last-minute bottleneck to get into the stadium.

"Fans are encouraged to arrive to the gates not later than one hour and 15 minutes before the scheduled kickoff time," he said. "Historically, cold- weather games at any venue lead to a late-arriving crowd."

Broncos defensive end Elvis Dumervil said no matter how cold it may be, he challenges fans to generate more noise than ever before on Saturday.

"It's vital," Dumervil said. "The louder you can get, the more it helps us up front."

Lesley Hernandez, front, and other Denver Broncos fans got a taste of chilly weather at the "United in Orange" pep rally at Sports Authority Field at Mile High on Friday. But Saturday will be colder. (Hyoung Chang, The Denver Post)